JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and employment she’s preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to respond to working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We want them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “building a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road,” he stated.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

“You require to go into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He discussed that guests must pinpoint the business they want to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit for informed conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior info technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.